The question of how long prosecco lasts is one on many peoples lips given this refreshing and crisp drink is the ideal drink for many occasions and celebrations.
After all no one likes a glass of flat, bubble-less prosecco which has been left sitting open in the fridge for 7 days.
Yeah - no thanks!
Here we're going to give you all the advice and tips you need to help store and preserve your Prosecco (for longer), so it tastes better and fresher for longer when it's both opened and unopened.
You'll discover the best storage methods, plus how to make the most of any leftover Prosecco.
How Long Does Prosecco Last?
Unlike many wines that benefit from ageing, Prosecco is a popular wine that is best enjoyed from a freshly popped bottle.
Prosecco can be stored unopened for up to 2-3 years (if it's stored correctly between 6-12 degrees Celsius), but once opened, its shelf life is 1-3 days due to its high sugar content, which causes it to lose flavour faster than other wines.
Unopened Prosecco Shelf Life
When stored properly in a cool, dark place away from sunlight and with low humidity levels, unopened prosecco can last up to 2-3 years.
Why not consider a luxury display wine wall, perfect for storing your prosecco and Champagne collections?
To maximise the enjoyment of the bottle is best to drink the prosecco 1-3 hours after the bottle has been opened.
Prosecco is best served chilled at between 6-8 degrees so it's perfectly cold and crisp.
Opened Prosecco Shelf Life
Opened bottles of prosecco should be consumed within 1-3 days to maximise taste and freshness.
The longer the bottle is opened the higher the likelihood of the quality of the prosecco diminishing from the original intended taste - when it's a freshly opened bottle.
You can make the most of it by freezing it or incorporating it into your dishes. With a little imagination, you can ensure that no drop of sweet, sweet Prosecco is wasted!
- Turn leftover into ice cubes: Making ice cubes with leftover Prosecco is a great way to use prosecco that might otherwise get poured down the sink. Simply pour the leftovers into an ice cube tray and freeze them for later use in a drink.
- Use it to make a white wine sauce: Another way to use leftover Prosecco is to make a white wine sauce for seafood or pasta.
- Use it in a vinaigrette: Prosecco can also be used to make a delicious salad dressing by enhancing the flavours of the vinaigrette.
Where And How to Store Prosecco?
The best place to store open and unopened bottles of prosecco is in a fridge or a large wine cooler - as they have the space to hold bigger bottles.
Keeping prosecco at a lower temperature of 6 degrees reduces the release of the bubbles in the liquid which give prosecco its fizzy, crisp taste.
Remember to store open bottles of prosecco standing upright to avoid unwanted spillages in the fridge!
Storing Unopened Bottles of Prosecco
For unopened bottles of Prosecco, the best way to preserve its quality is to store bottles in a cool, dark place such as a refrigerator or wine fridge.
Its important unopened bottles are protected from sun light exposure (UV rays), temperatures above 12 degrees and unwanted humidity levels (greater than 75%) or humidity levels which fluctuate from low to high levels.
Lastly keep your unopened bottles of prosecco away from any unwanted odours which can seep into the bottles through the corks over long periods of time.
Storing Opened Bottles of Prosecco
After opening a bottle of prosecco, one of the most effective ways to preserve the quality of it is to store it in a cool, dark place, such as a refrigerator or wine fridge.
Cool air and temperatures slow the release of carbon (which gives prosecco its fizz) keeping the bubbles around for longer.
To keep prosecco fizzy, keep the bottle upright and consider using a wine cork or stopper designed to vacuum out air from inside the bottle.
Related: How Many Glasses In a Bottle of Prosecco?
Does Prosecco Go Off / Bad?
Yes, prosecco does go off if it isn't stored correctly.
The taste of an opened bottle of prosecco will diminish after 1-3 days (even if it is stored correctly), leading the taste to become flat and bubble-less.
However, unopened bottles of prosecco doesn't expire for at least 2-3 years if it is stored correctly at 6-12 degrees.
After 2-3 years even unopened prosecco can start to lose its desired taste.
How to Tell If Prosecco Has Gone Bad
Use your eyes, nose and taste buds to judge if your prosecco has gone bad:
The Eye Test
Pour a small amount of the prosecco into a clear glass and take a look at it with your eyes.
The prosecco is most likely expired if its light yellow colour has turned more of a yellowy, brown colour. This happens due to oxidation and being exposed to warm temperatures too.
The Smell Test
Pour a small amount of prosecco into a glass and smell it with your nose. If it smells musty or off, best to discard it and don't drink it.
The Taste Test
Furthermore, if the eye and smell test aren't sufficient to tell if the prosecco has gone bad you can also have a small sip of the prosecco.
If it lacks its usual crisp, zingy, bubbly taste, it's probably best to throw it away.
To enjoy prosecco before it goes off, consume it within 1-3 days of opening to experience the best flavour, while storing it in the optimal, cool conditions to maintain its drinkability.
How Do You Keep Prosecco Fresh & Fizzy
After opening, the best way to keep prosecco fresh is in the fridge or a wine fridge.
Use a tight wine cork made for sparkling wines like prosecco and champagne to keep the prosecco effervescent.
Here are a few other ways to keep opened bottles of prosecco tasting better for longer:
Method 1 - Use a metal spoon
Dangling a spoon in the mouth of the bottle before placing it in the fridge keeps the bottle neck cooler (than it would be without the spoon).
The spoon forms an air plug above the prosecco, which can help prevent the your prosecco from going flat!
Method 2 - Keep the bottle cold
To keep a fizzy level of bubbles in your Prosecco, keep the open bottle refrigerated (at 6-8 degrees celsius) until you're ready to drink it again. This reduces the loss of carbonation.
Method 3 - Put a cork in it
To further prevent carbonation loss (fizz and freshness reduction) use an airtight cork to seal the bottle with plastic wrap fastened by a rubber band and refrigerate it or an air tight suction wine stopper like a coravin.
But even if you do use a wine stopper - put the bottle in the fridge too!
Related:
Summary
We hope you enjoyed our article on how long does prosecco wine last.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk
You can browse more posts on Wine Types here.
Author:
Philip Thompson
Philip is the General Manager at Expert Wine Storage, and is very knowledgable about all things relating to wine and wine storage, including wine fridges. He is regularly featured in media outlets sharing his knowledge on wine.
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Hugh Jazscheens
July 18, 2024
Comments (above) about storage at 6 degrees are measured in Celcius, not Fahrenheit. 6C is about 42 degrees F and 12C is about 54 degrees Fahrenheit.